Kumitat għall-Ħarsien Soċjali

Despite the recent improvement in most social indicators in many Member States, the Social Protection Committee 2017 report shows that overall the social situation in the EU hasn’t recovered from the economic crisis. The EU continues to be far off-track in reaching its Europe 2020 poverty and social exclusion target, with signs of continued deterioration in the depth and persistence of poverty in a number of Member States as well as widening gaps in the adequacy of social benefits.

The Social Protection Committee monitors the social situation in the EU and the developments in social protection policies in Member States. Based on a set of key indicators and Member States’ reporting, the report analyses the progress towards the Europe 2020 target on reducing poverty and social exclusion together with the latest social trends to watch. The most recent social policy developments in Europe are also reported on as well as the key structural social challenges currently faced by each Member State.

This Social Protection Committee background report on sick leave and sick pay/sickness benefit schemes in the EU sheds light on the huge variations in the way Member States address absence from work due to sickness. All EU countries provide sick leave and sickness benefits. However, sick pay and benefits schemes vary widely regarding their eligibility conditions, duration and replacement rates.

This report delivers on the core task of the Social Protection Committee to monitor the social situation in the EU and the developments in social protection policies in the Member States. Based on a set of key indicators and Member States’ reporting, the report analyses the progress towards the Europe 2020 target on reducing poverty and social exclusion together with the latest social trends to watch. The most recent social policy developments in Europe are also reported on as well as the key structural social challenges currently faced by each Member State.

The 2015 Report of the Social Protection Committee takes stock of recent social policy reforms in the EU. The report sheds light on the key challenges facing EU policymakers in the areas of social inclusion, poverty reduction, Roma inclusion, pensions, health care and long-term care needs, and analyses the reforms introduced to overcome them. It stresses the need for an integrated approach of social protection, covering a citizen’s entire life course, from childbirth and related care through to education, training and employment, family and social life and finally retirement.

This publication reflects the 2015 update of the portfolio of EU social indicators as developed by the Social Protection Committee and especially its Indicators Sub-Group. The indicators aim at monitoring progress towards the EU objectives for social protection and social inclusion. In addition to a list of overarching indicators, four sets of indicators focus on specific topics: social inclusion, pensions, healthcare and long-term care, and child poverty and wellbeing. The lists are continuously being improved as statistics, data collection and policy needs evolve. The indicators are an essential tool to assess the social challenges facing EU countries, identity social trends to watch and support Member States reporting on social policies.